Opinion

Last week’s Programme for Government marked one year as first minister for John Swinney and also fell exactly one year until voters go to the polls in arguably one of the most important Scottish elections since devolution, writes Scott Wright. The programme was brought forward by the first min

The EU’s sweeping reform of product liability law contrasts sharply with the UK’s more tentative approach, write Paola Sproul and Mark Gibson. The EU and the UK are undergoing significant overhauls of their product liability regimes, primarily driven by the need to address challenges pos

Scottish building and fire safety regulations are set to change significantly in light of the Grenfell Tower fire inquiry, writes Katherine Metcalfe. The Scottish Government’s acceptance of all recommendations from the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire signals further significant cha

In the wake of World Intellectual Property Day, Alastair Smith explores the crucial significance of intellectual property rights in protecting the creative work and ensuring the commercial success of musicians and composers. It is arguably the most iconic movie signature tune of all time, recognisab

Plans to reward people who report corporate crime within their own organisation are to be taken forward by the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) over the next year, writes Tom Stocker. In its latest annual business plan the SFO lists “progress whistleblower incentivisation reform” as

On 16 April 2025, the UK's Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the terms "woman," "man," and "sex" in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex at birth. This landmark judgment provides clarity on a contentious legal issue, but also creates practical considerations for organisations seeking to

New US tariffs (who knows where things will land) could well increase material costs and delay supply chains across the UK and Scottish construction sectors. Add to that investor uncertainty and currency fluctuations, and the risks are clear, writes Jennifer Young. Now’s the time to revisit co

Following the Scottish government’s response to the Grenfell Inquiry report, Caroline Maciver highlights the implications so far for the sector and calls for more clarity to help it progress under the new regulatory regime.  Last month, Holyrood’s housing minister Paul McLennan upda

On the anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, Gillian Mawdsley writes about the trial that ensued. One significant date for the British forces arose on 15th April 1945, 80 years ago with the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. That was the camp from which British troops sent bac

At the 2025 Global Infrastructure Investment Summit in Berlin, the key theme was the transition to a net-zero economy through energy and infrastructure innovation. But what does this mean through a Scottish lens? David Young explains. This theme aligns with Scotland's ambitions for sustainable econo

Advocate Michael Upton FCI Arb analyses Vodafone Ltd v Icon Tower Infrastructure Ltd [2025] UKUT 58. The ‘new’ Electronic Communications Code came into force at the end of 2017. It is a schedule to the Communications Act 2003. It governs telecoms masts and other ‘electronic communi

The recent allegations of extensive sexual abuse filed against former owner of Fulham Football Club Mohamed Al Fayed have raised questions around the liability of sports organisations for the actions of individuals who act on their behalf, writes Áine Coll. In recent years, many cases of hist

New regulations are now in force to protect lowest earning debtors, writes Ahsan Mustafa. An Earnings Arrestment Schedule is an effective method of diligence which puts the onus on a debtor’s employer to repay the debt through deducting the employee’s wages. Breach of an Earnings Arrestm

According to the Scottish government, it’s estimated that there are 52,000 unpaid carers in Scotland. Given the stereotypes and societal expectations surrounding the word ‘carer’, there can be a reticence for those within and outside the workplace to identify themselves with this t

I wrote in February on The Burden of Compliance, having read the articles about the Scottish Law Agents Society and their survey of the profession. Happily, I was wrong and they did get a good response. Certainly more than enough for statistical significance. And it was at least a neutral exercise u